Ben’s Look Birdy blog

This is my account of turning an idea into an app, and everything else that happens next...

No longer will you have to publicly humiliate yourself in an attempt to get your precious children to look at the camera.

Look Birdy is a very simple photo app that solves a problem which has plagued parents for… well I guess as long as phones could take photos.

The app, created by 38 year old Melbourne Dad Ben Keenan with programming help from his friend Rhys Sullivan uses an iPhones flash in way Steve Jobs never intended.

It turns it into an attractor whilst making attention grabbing bird noises that magically attract little eyeballs to get kids looking in photos.

No longer will you have to publicly humiliate yourself in an attempt to get your precious children to look at the freaken camera, Look Birdy does this for you. Works pretty well on pets too.

Look Birdy has just hit the App store.Ben will be trying his hand at blogging about his adventures and how the world reacts to this app at this website: http://www.lookbirdy.comIf you would like to ask Ben anything, you can reach him on hello (at ) lookbirdy.com or on Twitter on @lookbirdy

They say you should never work with children or animals, good thing my little iPhone app works with both.

In a couple of weeks, and with zero investment in advertising, Look Birdy, my little app that helps parents take better photos of their kids has been downloaded thousands of times in over 32 countries and counting – I for one am flummoxed by this reaction, but am certainly enjoying the ride.

Apart from parents and pet owners posting photographic proof that the app works from, here are some of the highlights so far…

Last year, I started making stuff that related to my kids, this turned into my Creative Dad Trilogy. Part tribute to my daughters and the new things they teach me everyday and part challenge to myself to stop mindlessly watching TV at night and actually finish some personal creative projects.

Project one: The Bin Man.

Every Monday morning my daughters were woken by the noisy rubbish truck. Rather than being annoyed by it, they thought it was magical. This inspired a bedtime story that would be requested every other night. With the help of the awesomely talented Dan Jones, who just became a new Dad this week, we turned it into a book. Printed in a limited edition of two, one for each them.

Project two: Look Birdy App

Look Birdy came from an idea I had from looking at the photos in my phone where I was failing to get my daughters attention. I am writing this post a week after launching it and the response has been amazing. And yes, I do lay awake a night hoping Look Birdy turns into this phenomenon that allows me to pursue creative Dad projects for a living. It got endorsed by a Malaysian Pop-Star last night, so you never know.

Project three: ???

There are two ideas duking it out for number three.

One was inspired by my desire to be like Peter Falk in the Princess Bride. This idea is about creating a process that helps Dads ( and Mums!) make up awesome bedtime stories using classic plot structures as a guide. I imagine this to be a creative framework that familiarises you with the beats of a story so you can make up endless variety of bedtime stories.

The other idea is something my eldest daughter suggested when she was four. She woke up one morning and said “Dad, I have an idea for an iPad app”. Mind you, a few days earlier she had announced that she wanted to be a banana when she grew up so I knew this could go anywhere. Then she told me her idea: “You should do an iPad app that teaches kids what to do in a emergency” – so simple, and necessary in a world where we don’t use home phones anymore.

So I’ve decided I’m going to do a survey, post below and let me know which one the world is ready for, or follow me on Twitter and ping me your opinion that way.

No longer will you have to publicly humiliate yourself in an attempt to get your precious children to look at the camera.

Look Birdy is a very simple photo app that solves a problem which has plagued parents for… well I guess as long as phones could take photos.

The app, created by 38 year old Melbourne Dad Ben Keenan with programming help from his friend Rhys Sullivan uses an iPhones flash in way Steve Jobs never intended.

It turns it into an attractor whilst making attention grabbing bird noises that magically attract little eyeballs to get kids looking in photos.

No longer will you have to publicly humiliate yourself in an attempt to get your precious children to look at the freaken camera, Look Birdy does this for you. Works pretty well on pets too.

Look Birdy has just hit the App store.Ben will be trying his hand at blogging about his adventures and how the world reacts to this app at this website: http://www.lookbirdy.comIf you would like to ask Ben anything, you can reach him on hello (at ) lookbirdy.com or on Twitter on @lookbirdy

There is a massive gaping chasm between coming up with an idea and actually making it.

For me, this is this app.

I got my first iPhone around the time my first daughter was being born.

In fact, I think taking photos of Noushie (who is now five) is what justified it.

So here we are, so close.

Rhys, after many, many tweaks and changes is about to make this thing real.

I’m Ben. Noush and Millie’s Dad and the inventor of the app Look Birdy.

I will be posting the ongoing saga of how this app goes as I bring it into the world. Your feedback on the app, and everything else I'm doing is most welcome. On Twitter? You can follow me here @warmcola